The law minister yesterday asserted that trial of war crimes suspect organisations was inevitable.

"We have to fulfil the desire of the people, and I feel that the trial must be held,” Law Minister Anisul Huq told reporters after a programme at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital.

The law ministry has prepared a draft to amend the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act -1973, so that organisations could be tried under the law for war crimes. It has the provision for banning a convicted organisation from the political arena, law ministry sources said.

Anisul said the draft proposal for amending the law would be placed before the prime minister and the cabinet for approval.

The cabinet could modify the proposed amendment to

the law. He said the terms of punishment for organisations guilty of war crimes committed during the Liberation War would be revealed after the cabinet approval of the amendment.

Several organisations had been demanding that Jamaat-e-lslami be put on trial for its alleged war crimes during the war.

On Tuesday, US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Stephen Rapp during his visit to Bangladesh had opposed the idea of trying any political party or organisation. He urged all concerned to focus on individuals who committed war crimes.

On Rapp's comment, the law minister yesterday said it could have been his personal opinion.